The Middleburg Town Council unanimously approved a resolution in appreciation of Charles ("Chuck") Hoovler's seven years of service "to the Glenwood Park Trust and the people of Middleburg" at its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, April 13. The Trust bears primary responsibility for raising necessary funds, maintenance and the operation of Glenwood Park, a 160-acre national treasure, just 1.4 miles north of Middleburg on Foxcroft Road.

Recognized globally as one of the world's premier steeplechase courses, Glenwood Park's races and other events attract thousands of visitors to Middleburg each year. Its grounds and facilities also serve, in effect, as Middleburg's "Central Park" and are made available, free of charge, throughout the year to the public, and for events and activities for which no fees are charged.

No endowment supports Glenwood Park. According to Hoovler the Trust earns no more than $15,000 per year from the $2,500 fees it charges to promoters of ticketed events, with the rest of the Park's annual operating expenses, another $15,000 per year, coming from donations, gifts and other fund-raising activities of the Trust and its friends.

Council Member Bundles Murdock suggested that the Middleburg Business Community might well consider an annual stipend for the Park. Mayor Dimos, in response to a query from the audience, noted that an endowment of just under $1,000,000 would fund the park's operations easily, and that, ironically, the hard work, dedication and success of Hoovler and his colleagues on the Trust board of directors, had perhaps prevented consideration of establishing just such a trust.

Salamander Inn

Following the County Board of Supervisors' approval of the boundary line adjustment for the Salamander Inn project, Mayor Tim Dimos' regular monthly agenda contained only one item related to the development of the Inn and Spa: the approval of a contract with Glatting Jackson Kercher Anlin Lopez Rinehart, Inc. to examine issues, analyze options and make recommendations to the Town Council about how best to accommodate an entrance to the Spa from Pendleton Street, and how to address a wide range of related issues affecting pedestrian safety. The project will be supervised by Ian M. Lockwood, the primary consulting engineer on the Highway 50 Traffic Calming Project affecting the road between Paris and Gilbert's Corner. Salamander will reimburse the Town for the cost of the study, fixed by the new contract at $15,600 plus an estimated $5,000 in expenses. Town Administrator Mike Casey told the Council that work on the project should begin in mid May, with results and recommendations available for review and discussion soon thereafter.

New Businesses

The council heard presentations from two new businesses: New owner Keith Hutcheson, a retired Air Force veteran, described plans for his 15-employee, Middleburg Fitness facility; Mimi Stein described a new service at Home Farm, a computer inventory which allows a consumer to trace the history of all meat bought there from "farm to fork."

Highlights of other Reports

Police Chief Steve Webber reported a quiet March in Middleburg, with only 142 calls for service requiring response from his officers, the vast majority traffic-related, with only three arrests required. Mike Casey noted for the record that parking meter fees would go up on Saturday, April 22. Claudia Dornin, the Town's Economic Development Coordinator noted that Tripp Muldrow's weather-delayed presentation of findings from the Winter survey of Middleburg shoppers' zip-codes was lightly attended. Designed to help merchants focus their marketing and promotion efforts by providing reliable data on just where their customers live, the surveys will be done quarterly. Results of the last survey are available at the Town Office.